Device for applying grips



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DEVICE FOR APPLYING GRIPS Filed April 1l ),922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 )M7-Misses:-

l iculty, and thereafter be taken apart to per- Fatented Apr.. il, H924.

Umano star GEORGE M.. STRUNG, 0F BALTIMORE, MARY.

D "a" .f CE FOR AFPLYIN'G: 'fir i Application filed April l1, 1922. Serial No. 551,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE M. ARMSTRONG, citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the county of Baltimore City and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Devices for Applying Grips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel device for applyin tubular grips to the handles of golf clu s or the like.

Heretofore considerable diculty has been experienced in properly applying and setting tubular sheaths or grips to the handles of playing clubs such as golf sticks, and the present invention has primarily in view a novel device for overcoming this diculty, thereby permitting elastic or equivalent tubular grips to be applied with facility and accuracy. In that connection the invention contemplates a simple and practical device in the nature of a form or carrier that may readily receive the tubular member and eX- pand it to sufficient diameter to enable it to be readily placed upon the stick without vdifmit the sheath to rest upon the handle of the shaft precisely in the desired position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that may be economically manufactured; simple to operate; readily taken apart and assembled; and which is also substantial and durable thereby providing a device capable of giving maximum service.

`ifi/'ith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,

l the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevationof the improved device.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device illustrating the initial step in its use.

Fi re 3 is a viewl similar to Figure 2 showing the device telescoped over the end of the golf stick for the purpose of positioning the grip thereon.

Figure 4f is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 showing how the device is taken apart in order to permit the tubular grip to be left on the handle of the stick.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of F igur 3.

Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail front elevation of the expander plug.

Figure. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 7.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several iig- -ures of the drawings.

In carrying the present invention into effect it is proposed to provide a collapsible mandrel or form of skeleton formation to readily receive a tubular'elastic golf grip Gr in such a manner that it may be readily expanded to be fitted or placed over the handle portion of the golf stick thereby to enable the same to be shifted circumferentially of the shaft to be placed accurately in the desired position. In that connection the invention is of special utility in applying golf grlps of the type set forth in my pending application Serial No. 530907 filed J anuary 21, 1922, which have a sight-line or marker which bears a definite relation to the head of the club or stick and therefore must be accurately set on the shaft in order to enable the same to properly function as a sighting-marker. L

The advantages of elastic or yieldable grips for the handles of golf clubs or the like are readily appreciated and understood b those familiar with the handling of the clilbs, but heretofore it has been practically an impossibility to successfully apply rubber or similar grips of tubular form because, in order to provideca successfully attached grip,

the same must be applied in such a manner as to be under tension. 4lf the grip is initially made of Ia diameter to readily slip or slide onto the handle of the'stick, it is dicult to attach the same in a manner that it will notv slip or turn when the club is used. On the other hand it is dicult to provide a grip of smaller diameter initially than the shaft, and

having sufficient body as well as anti-slipping qualit1es, which can be readily placed on the readily shifted or adjusted prior to the removal of the several parts to effect its release thereby making it possible to quickly and accurately position the grip in the desired manner on the shaft, Aand subsequently remove the device.

In its general aspect the present device includes a skeleton collapsibleform or mandrel A comprising a pluralitywof expanderV fingers 1 which may be held in their spaced and assembled relation by a suitable base piece B, and shifted diametrically in the expanding operation by means of an expander plug C that is preferably inthe form of a coneto facilitate its movement between the expander arms.

Obviously, the above general organization of parts may assume various forms of embodiment, but a preferred and practical arrangement and construction thereof is showin in the accompanying drawings from which it will be observed that the expander fingers 1 are preferably relatively long narrow strips of metal'held in spaced and assembled relation by fitting into the spaced sockets 2 of the base piece B. As will be observed from Figure 9 these sockets are preferably equi-distantly spaced in the side Wall of the central'boss portion 3 of the base and for the purpose of retaining and holding the ends of the expander fingers in the sockets a suitable retainingV ring 4 may be employed. This ring ispreferably provided at its 'inner face with a plurality of offset portions .5 for registering with the sockets 2 to clamp the fingers in the sockets, but when rotated so that lthe offset portions or abutments 5 are out of registry with ythe sockets the fingers may be released.

For convenience in maintaining the ends ofthe fingers opposite the base' piece in closed relation when the device 'is stored or not in use a suitable thimble or cap 6 may be employed. This cap also serves to keep the ends of the expander fingers in position While the grip is being pushed over the same.

In connection with the means for expanding the fingers 1 it will be observed that the expander plug -C preferably includes the conical entering portion 7 .and the relatively flat skirt orband 8 provided with guiding recesses 9 for receiving and guiding the expander fingers 1 as the plug is pushed therebetween as will presently appear. The base of this plug'is provided with a socket portion 10 for fitting over the end of a suitable startin abutment 11 which .may beplaced upon tie edge of a bench or the like as shown in Figure 2, and to also thereafter act as means for kreceiving the end of the golf stick S in the further manipulation of the device. It will also be observed that the thimble 6 serves to hold the expander arms 1- in position so that each arm will beassembled to fit in the proper notch 9 of the cone substantially as follows Assuming that the device is in the condi-V- tion shown in Fig. 1 the cap may be removed and the expander lplug C taken out. The cap 6 may be then replaced over the ends of the arms 1 to facilitate the placing of the grip G thereon. That is to say, the cap or thimble 6 may be replaced over the ends of the 7arms after the cone C has been taken out so as to maintain the' arms in proper relation and thereby enable the cone t0 be readily positioned so that the arms will properly fit into the proper notches thereof. The expander plug C may then be placed over and against the button or abutment 11 on a bench o1' other support and the ends of the fingers 1 pressed over the cone 7 and into the guiding notches 9 of the plug to effect the initial expansion of the fingers 1. Owing to the relative elasticity of the grip G the fingers 1 will be securely held within the notches V,and the enti-re device shown in Figure 2 may be removed from the abutment 11 and the socket 10 of the expander plug C fitted over the end of the golf stick S. 'The golf stick is thenheld relatively stationary and the present device is pushed over the -end of the stick until the cone C travels and entirely clears the end of the tubular grip. While the parts are in this position as shown in Figure 3 it will be apparent that the grip `may be readily adjusted circumferentially of the handle of the golf stick S and when the desired set is obtained the device may be dismembered and removed.

To effect the removal the methpd outlined in Figure 4 may be followed. That is to say the ring 4 which retains the ends of the fingers in the socketsy2 may be rotated so as to shift the abutments 5l out of registry with the sockets to release the' fingers whereupon the base piece may be.

readily detached and the expander plug C is also removed. The expander fingers 1 may then be individually removed from between the grip and the shaft thereby permitting the grip to contract onto and snugly fit the shaft without disturbing the position in which it has been set by the manipulation of the collapsible mandrel orframe.

For a great many years manufacturers of golf grips as well as players have recognized the desirable qualities of the rubber grip but their plans to utilize rubber have been frustrated by their inability to provide a method of securely fastening the grip on the stick. Rubber cement, glue, paste, and

inaaeoi e'ort tosecurely fasten the grip either toY `prevent the rubber grip, sooner or later,

turning on the shaft. By Wrapping the club first with friction tape and employing this method to put the grip in place, this diiiculty is overcome, as the grip remains firmly adhered to the tape in the position in which it was applied.

l/Vithout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the improvement Will be readily apparent, and it will of course be understood that changes'in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

l claim l. A device for applying grips to the handles of playing clubs comprising an expansible and contractible 'form adapted to receive thereon the tubular elastic member con-- stituting the grip, an' expanding device adapted to be engaged by the club handle and moved thereby and therewith through the form causing the latter to expand, and releasable means temporarily holding the form intact during the expanding operation.

2. A device for applying grips to the handles of playing clubs comprising an expansible and contractible form ada ted to receive thereon the tubular elastic member `constituting the grip, means for expanding of lingersl adapted to receive thereover the tubular elastic member constituting the grip, temporary holding means releasably engaging one end of said fingers,y and an expanding element adapted to be engaged by the club handle and moved thereby and therewith inside of the fingers causing the latter with the grip thereon `to expand, said expanding device being adapted to pass out of the form at the end Where the fingers are held by said holding means.

4. A device for applying tubular grips to the handles of playing clubs including a collapsible mandrel consisting of a plurality of expander fingers, a combined spacing and carrier member for one end of the fingers, means for holding said lingers thereto, and

an expander plug adapted to engage With the other end of said fingers and be shifted longitudinally thereof to expand the same diametrcally, said expander plug consisting of a conical body having a plurality of notches in the circumference thereof for receiving and guiding the expander lingers .and also provided With a socket.

5. A device for applying tubular golf gri s to the handles of laying clubs inclu ing a skeleton collapsi le mandrel comprising a plurality of expander ngers, a base piece having spaced sockets for receiving one end of the fingers, means for detachably holding said fingers in the sockets of the base piece, and an expander plug for cooperating with said fingers.

6. A device for applying tubular golf grips to the handles of playing clubs including a skeleton collapsible mandrel comprisin a plurality of expander fingers, a base piece havin spaced sockets for receiving one end o f t e fingers, a retainin ring for detachably holding said fingers 1n the sockets of the base piece, and an expander plug for cooperating With said fingers.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto afhx my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE M. ARMSTRONG. 

